Pumpkin Launch

In October 2016, Kennesaw State University hosted the sixth annual pumpkin launch,
featuring pumpkin catapults designed and built by first-year Mechanical Engineering
Students. This event featured 30 teams, each of which launched three pumpkins. The
team that sent their pumpkin the farthest distance won.

This year, the Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality got involved
to ensure the smashed pumpkins got put to good use, rather than just being sent to
the landfill. They reached out to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the
Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability to collect all 900-plus pounds of smashed
pumpkin and transport it to Hickory Grove Farm.

Once the pumpkins arrived at the farm, staff fed the smashed pumpkins to some very
happy chickens.

Sustainability Fun Facts...

30-40% of all food in the U.S. is sent to the landfill each year (20 pounds per person
per month!).

Food waste comprises nearly 20% of all waste sent to landfills in the U.S. In landfills,
food waste creates methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times more potent than carbon
dioxide.

At KSU, The Commons and Stingers provide small plates to encourage diners to only
get as much food each trip as they will actually eat as one way to reduce food waste.
They also prepare food in small batches to limit food waste originating in the kitchen.
Any food waste that is generated is captured and sent to be composted as part of KSU’s
“Clean the Plate” initiative.